Llyn Allan Lloyd

Llyn was born in Evergreen Park, Il to Russell and Gladys Lloyd. Many relatives lived in their part of the city, a suburb of Chicago, and there were many family gatherings around the dinner table. During high school he worked at several jobs, but the one he enjoyed the most was working for pharmacist Jack Raphael at his pharmacy. After graduating from Thornton High he headed to Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio to attend the school of pharmacy. He married Helen Main in 1959 and graduated with his pharmacy degree in 1960.

His first job out of college was at a pharmacy in a rural area of Ohio. After one year, he packed up his wife, baby girl, Leanne and headed west to Idaho. He always had a desire to live in the mountains. May of 1961 found the little family in Treasure Valley where Llyn found no shortage of pharmacists who were happy to hire him to work in their store so they could take a well-earned vacation. Among the stores he worked in were Penny Wise Drug in Caldwell and Swede Boice’s pharmacy in Meridian.

As winter drew near, he signed on with Merck, Sharp & Home to work eastern Oregon as a detail man, calling on doctors and clinics. Llyn and his folks had been scouting around southern Idaho for a drugstore to purchase, but had not found a likely prospect until the summer of 1963 when Llyn took Helen, Leanne and new baby, Doug on a camping trip to Island Park, ID. After spending the first night camping at the Craters of the Moon, Llyn said, “I hear the Rexall Drug Store in Arco is for sale. I think we’ll stop on our way and take a look at it.” He thought it had possibilities, and after his folks gave their approval, the Lloyd clan moved to Arco to run this store. Russ and Gladys ran the front of the store, and Llyn was pharmacist, vet supply man and gun salesman. There was a soda fountain which was frequented by coffee groups and after school kids who had sandwiches, ice cream and sodas for lunch. Our son Brad was born the first winter in Arco, and all three of the kids plus Mama had jobs to do at the store. We lived in Arco until 1976 when the store was sold and we all moved to Treasure Valley.

Llyn bought a part interest in a new Super Thrift Drug Store at 5 Mile Rd and Lake Hazel. It failed to succeed due to the county cancelling the development of housing in that part of Ada County. Llyn then went to work a Lemp’s Apothecary until he was hired to be Executive Director of the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy, working tor the board from 1982 to 1986.

In 1986 Llyn was hired to be the Executive Director of the Arizona state Board of Pharmacy, a job that would last until retirement in 2003. While in Arizona, Llyn was active in National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, serving as a board member and also as President of this organization whose purpose is to make pharmacy regulation and licensure across the nation and between many countries safe and workable. He served as an instructor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Arizona and also taught Pharmacy Law at Midwestern University Glendale College of Pharmacy. He wrote articles for many newsletter and professional magazines, serving as editor of several of them.

Awards he was proud to have received were the A.H. Robins Bowl of Hygeia Award for excellence in pharmacy and community. Another honor was being the initial recipient of the Arizona Pharmacy Association Llyn Lloyd Award in 2003, recognition for sustained contributions to health care in Arizona and the profession of pharmacy.

During his time in Arizona, Llyn became a member of PRN, a pharmacist recovery program. His empathy and support for pharmacists struggling with addiction and the likely loss of their license to practice lead him to work for them in Arizona, the Southwest region and at the yearly University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies. He gained many great friends among the ranks of recovering individuals, administrators, pastors, and priests, people associated with the drug companies, all who became great friends and supporters of PRN. He was one of the founding members of PAPA, Pharmacists assisting Pharmacists of Arizona.

In 2003, retirement brought Llyn and Helen back to Idaho. Llyn looked for work opportunities, the first being on staff at a large vet supply corporation in Meridian. Then he worked with Life’s Doors Hospice to set up a pharmacy in their office space to serve their patients.

In 2013 the signs of dementia started showing up and the next eight years were challenging, with him seeking to keep his work ethic going - woodworking, yard and garden work, camping, serving at church, looking after his 90+ year old mother, etc. During 2020, he became bed-ridden due to the decline from dementia, and he ended his days in our home, cared for by Helen, his wife of 62 years. We would like to thank Hospice staff, Karrie, Denise, Dave and Roger, and caregivers, Carla, Michelle, Jo Ellen and Eh Say.

Llyn was predeceased by his mother Gladys, father Russell, and sister Denise. Survivors are his wife, Helen; daughter, Leanne Lloyd-Fairey (Bob); sons, Doug Lloyd and Brad Lloyd (Tiffany); grandson, Chris Lloyd (Shanae); and his great grandson, Bennett. He is also survived by his sister's five children, their spouses, and grandchildren.

This man of faith, loving his Lord, family and friends - caring and giving - will be greatly missed.

No memorial service is planned at the present time.